Adhesive coating device for joint tape



p 19, 1967 E. A. WEEKS 3,342,160

ADHESIVE COATING DEVICE FOR JOINT TAPE Filed March 17, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E well A. Wee/rs BY ww v am Sept. 19, 1967 E. A. WEEKS ADHESIVE COATING DEVICE FOR JOINT TAPE 2 SheetsSheet Filed March 17, 1964 Euwel/ A. Weeks INVENTOR.

Wow 3% United States Patent ()fifice 3,342,160 Patented Sept. 19, 1967 3 342,160 ADHESIVE COATING DEVICE FOR JOINT TAPE Euwell A. Weeks, 101 Santa Villa Drive, Milton, Fla. 32570 Filed Mar. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 352,509

' 15 Claims. (Cl. 118-43) This invention relates to apparatus for coating the joint covering tape utilized in dry plaster wall construction with an adhesive mixture.

The present invention relates therefore, to an improved form of device by means of which joint tape may be more effectively and rapidly mudded or coated with the adhesive filler mixture or .mud usually applied to one side of .thetape for filling and covering the joints in a dry wall construction utilizing plasterboard panels.

An important object of the present invention therefore, is to provide a device for applying adhesive to tape which is more effective in use, more easily handled and more easily cleaned for subsequent use.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the adhesive applying device of the present invention features a combined adhesive hopper construction and tape guide where- :by the coating of the tape with adhesive is restricted to one side thereof so as to facilitate handling of the coated tape when Withdrawn from the device.

As an additional feature of the present invention, the adhesive applying device includes facilities for regulating the thickness of the adhesive coating the tape.

' An additional object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive applying device for joint tape which is less likely to clog and more easily cleaned because of the constructional features thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive applying device for tape from which tape may be withdrawn at a more convenient angle and any desired length of tape severed in such a fashion as to facilitate withdrawal of a following length of tape. As an optional feature of the adhesive applying device, means for creasing the tape is provided whereby the tape may be more easily applied to corner joints. Also, facilities are provided by the adhesive applying device for removably mounting a roll of tape from which the tape is fed into the device.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the adhesive applying device of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the device as viewed from a plane extending substantially through section line 22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view of the device taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partial view of a portion of the device as viewed from a plane extending through section line 77 in FIGURES.

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 8-8 in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional view taken substantially. through a plane indicated by section line 9-9 in FIGURE 3. I

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed from FIGURE 1, that the device generally denoted by reference numeral 10 includes a hopper generally referred to by reference numeral 12 containing the adhesive mixture or mud 14 to be applied to one side of the paper joint tape 16 which is fed into the hopper from the roll 18. The tape 16 with a coating 20 of adhesive on one side thereof may therefore be withdrawn in a substantially horizontal position from one side of the device opposite the side on which the roll 18 is mounted. The device is supported in a stabilized fashion by means of a pair of elongated foot members 22 which are secured tolthe hopper 12 and extend therebeyond.

With continued reference to FIGURE 1 and FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, it will be observed that the hopper 12 includes an exit wall 24 and an entrance wall 26 which converge downwardly and are interconnected along a line of con-. vergence which rests on the supporting surface between the foot members 22, these foot members being secured to the connecting side walls 28 of the hopper. Formed along the upper edge 30 of the exit wall is an outlet opening or notch 32 from which the tape coated with the adhesive is withdrawn. The outlet opening 32 is therefore alined with a guide assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 34mounted on the internal surfaces of the exit and entrance walls. The roll 18 from which the tape is fed into the device, is therefore also alined with the guide assembly and is supported by the entrance wall. Toward this end, an elongated supporting bracket 36 is secured by the fasteners 38 to the entrance Wall 26 adjacent the upper edge 40 thereof, the bracket having a pair of arms 42 which extend upwardly from the entrance wall and are provided with alined roller seating notches or formations 44 for removably mounting the roll 18. Replacement of the roll of tape is thereby facilitated.

The guide assembly 34 includes a pair of parallel spaced rails 46 secured to the internal surface of the entrance Wall 26, these rails extending downwardly in spaced relation to the upper edge 40 of the entrance wall toward the line of convergence at which the entrance and exit walls intersect. The rails 46 vary in height from a maximum at the upper ends thereof toward a minimum height at the lower ends sufi'icient to bring the lower side of the tape into contact with the walls of the hopper before it passes under a tape engaging guide element 48 which is mounted in close parallel spaced relation to the line of convergence by a member 50 secured by fasteners 52 between the side walls 28 of the hopper as more clearly seen in FIGURES 3 and 4. The tape is thereby guided for movement along the exit wall 24 in contact with the internal surface thereof and between the parallel spaced rails 54 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 7 and 9. A plurality of cross rods 56 bridge the rails 46 and are secured thereto by U-shaped anchoring elements 58. Similarly, a plurality of cross rods 60 are secured to the rails 54 on the exit wall 24 by means of the anchoring elements 62. The tape 16 is thereby confined between the rails as it moves along the entrance and exit walls. The tape as it moves along the exit wall however, is in contact therewith so that only the top surface of the tape is exposed to the adhesive material 14 contained within the lower on opposite sides of the cover member by the rails 46. The upper end of the cover member 64 is therefore provided with a curved handle portion 68 to facilitate removal and replacement thereof. It will therefore be apparent, that upon removal of the cover member, all interior surfaces of the hopper may be cleaned so as to avoid clogging of the device.

As an optional feature, the adhesive applying device may include a tape creaser generally referred to by reference numeral 70. The creaser includes an elongated block which is secured to the upper portion of the entrance wall 26 and extends into the guide assembly between the upper portions of the rails 46 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. A folding slot 72 is formed in the creaser block 7 so as to receive and fold the tape along the center thereof before it enters the guide assembly 34 and is exposed to the adhesive along the exit wall 24.

The tape will therefore be coated with adhesive as it moves upwardly along the exit wall. In order to regulate the thickness of the adhesive coating the tape, a wiper element 74 is mounted adjacent the outlet opening 3'2 above the level of the adhesive within the lower end portion of the hopper as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. The rails 54 adjacent to and below the outlet opening 32, are therefore provided with a portion 76 of varying height along which the wiper element 74 is slidably mounted as more clearly seen in FIGURES 7 and 8. The wiper element is therefore provided with a pair of guide slots 78 through which adjustment screw elements 80 extend, for slidable mounting of the wiper element, the adjustment screw elements being secured to the exit wall 24 and projecting through the rail portions 76. A lockwasher 82 and wing nut 82 are therefore provided for each screw element 80 so as to lock the wiper element in an adjusted position in which the wiper element will be adjustably spaced above the internal surface of the exit wall between the rail portions 76 so as to wipe and thereby regulate the thickness of the adhesive coating the tape being withdrawn from the outlet opening 32.

It will also be observed from FIGURE 3, that withdrawal of the adhesive coated tape from the exit wall iseifected at an angle to the exit wall so that the tape will be in a substantially horizontal position in order to facilitate handling thereof, with the adhesive thereon. Any desired length of adhesive coated tape may therefore be pulled out of the device and severed by means of a cutoff blade 86 which is mounted in spaced relation to the exit wall 24 by means of the mounting block 88. It will therefore be apparent, that after the desired length of tape is severed, a portion of the tape will still project through the outlet opening 32 sufiicient to enable gripping thereof when another length of tape is to be dispensed from the device.

From the foregoing description, the construction, operation and utility of the adhesive coating device, will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that the apparatus of the present invention may be used with greater convenience in view of the dispensing facilities associated with the device wherein the tape is withdrawn in a substantially horizontal position and severed in such a manner as to readily permit withdrawal of the next length of tape. Also, the thickness of the adhesive coating the tape may be regulated by the adjustable wiping means described while the guide assembly is such as to restrict coating of the tape to one side. The guide assembly also enables the use of a creaser block for folding the tape along the center in order to facilitate its application to corner joints. Movement of the tape through the hopper is also restricted by the guide assembly so as to enable the tape to be moved more rapidly and yet be adequately coated with the adhesive concentrated at the lower end portion of the hopper by virtue of the downward convergence of the entrance and exit walls. The guide element 48 could be rotatably mounted by a water tight bearing carried by the bar member 0 adjacent the line of convergence to facilitate smooth movement of the tape. Disassembly of the member 50 with the guide element 4-8 from the hopper if ever necessary could be effected after removal of the fasteners through openings in the foot members 22. The external mounting facilities for the tape roll and the removability of the cover excluding the adhesive from the tape moving along the entrance wall, further enhances the utility of the adhesive applying device and facilitates cleaning thereof for continued effective use.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device for dispensing tape coated with adhesive comprising, a hopper having at least two downwardly converging walls confining a body of said adhesive there in, guide means mounted on said walls holding said tape in contact with at least one of the walls for exposing only one side of the tape to said body of adhesive, dispensing means on one of the walls for guiding withdrawal of the tape coated with the adhesive from the guide means, and means mounted on the other of said walls for feeding tape through the guide means.

2. A device for dispensing tape coated with adhesive comprising, a hopper having at least two downwardly converging walls confining said adhesive therein, guide means mounted on said walls for movement of said tape along the walls exposing only one side of the tape to said adhesive, dispensing means on one of the walls for guiding withdrawal of the tape coated with the adhesive and means mounted on the other of said walls for feeding tape through the guide means, said guide means comprising, parallel spaced rails mounted on the walls internally of the hopper, said walls intersecting along a line of convergence, tape engaging means mounted within the hopper in close parallel spaced relation to said line of convergence for confining movement of the tape to said walls between the rails, a plurality of cross rods connected in bridging relation to the rails for retaining the tape between the rails and removable cover means slidably mounted below the cross rods on said other of the walls for excluding adhesive from the tape moving along said other of the walls.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said feeding means comprises, mounting means secured to said other of the walls projecting upwardly therefrom in alinement with the guide means, said mounting means having a seat formation receiving a roll of said tape for feeding into the guide means below the cover means on said other of the walls.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said dispensing means includes, an outlet opening formed in said one of the walls alined with the .guide means, and a cut-off blade mounted externally on said one of the walls in spaced relation to the outlet opening for severing the tape extending from the outlet opening at an exit angle to said one wall.

5. The combination of claim 4 including creasing means mounted between an upper portion of the rails of the guide means on said other of the walls for folding the tape fed into the guide means.

6. The combination of claim 5 including adhesive wiping means mounted by the guide means adjacent the outlet opening of the dispensing means for regulating the thickness of the adhesive coating the tape withdrawn through the outlet opening.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said wiping means comprises, a wiper element bridging the rails, means slidably mounting the wiper element for limited movement along the rails, said rails being provided with a portion of varying height along which the wiper element is slidable, and means for locking the wiper element in an adjusted position on the rails adjustably spaced from the tape.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said feeding means comprises, mounting means securing to said other of the walls projecting upwardly therefrom in alinement with the guide means, said mounting means having a seat formation receiving a roll of said tape for feeding into the guide means.

9. The combination of claim "8 wherein said dispensing means includes, an outlet opening formed in said one of the walls alined with the guide means, and a cut-oh blade mounted externally on said one of the walls in spaced relation to the outlet opening for severing the tape extending from the outlet opening at an exit angle to said one wall.

'10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said dispensing means includes, an outlet opening formed in said one of the walls alined with the guide means, and a cutolf blade mounted externally on said one of the walls in spaced relation to the outlet opening for severing the tape extending from the outlet opening at an exit angle to said one wall.

11. The combination of claim 10 including adhesive wiping means mounted by the guide means above said body of adhesive adjacent the outlet opening of the dispensing means for regulating the thickness of the adhesive coating the tape while moving through the guide means adjacent the outlet opening.

12. A device for dispensing tape coated with adhesive comprising, a hopper having at least two downwardly converging walls confining said adhesive therein, guide means mounted on said walls for movement of said tape along the walls exposing only one side of the tape to said adhesive, dispensing means on one of the walls for guiding withdrawal of the tape coated with the adhesive, means mounted on the other of said walls for feeding tape through the guide means, said dispensing means including an outlet opening formed in said one of the walls alined with the guide means, and a cut-off blade mounted externally on said one of the walls in spaced relation to the outlet opening for severing the tape extending from the outlet opening at an exit angle to said one wall, and adhesive wiping means mounted by the guide means adjacent the outlet opening of the dispensing means for regulating the thickness of the adhesive coating the tape withdrawn through the outlet opening, said wiping means comprising, a wiper element straddling the tape, means slidably mounting the wiper element for limited movement along the guide means, said guide means being provided with a portion of varying height along which the wiper element is slidable, and means for locking the wiper element in an adjusted position on the guide means adjustably spaced from the tape.

13. The combination of claim 1 including adhesive wiping means mounted by the guide means above said body of adhesive for regulating the thickness of the adhesive coating the tape while moving through the guide means adjacent to the dispensing means.

14. A device for dispensing tape coated with adhesive comprising, a hopper having at least two downwardly converging walls confining said adhesive therein, guide means mounted on said walls for movement of said tape along the walls exposing only one side of the tape to said adhesive, dispensing means on one of the walls for guiding Withdrawal of the tape coated with the adhesive, means mounted on the other of said walls for feeding tape through the guide means and adhesive wiping means mounted by the guide means for regulating the thickness of the adhesive coating the tape withdrawn through the dispensing means, said wiping means comprising, a wiper element straddling the tape, means slidably mounting the wiper element for limited movement along the guide means, said guide means being provided with a portion of varying height along which the wiper element is slidable, and means for locking the wiper element in an adjusted position on the guide means adjustably spaced from the tape.

:15. A device for dispensing tape coated with adhesive comprising, a hopper having an entrance wall and an exit wall converging downwardly to a lower end portion within which the adhesive is confined, guide means mounted on said walls for restricting movement of the tape along said walls exposing only one side thereof to the adhesive, wiping means mounted on the exit wall above the level of the adhesive in the hopper for regulating the thickness of the adhesive coating said one side of the tape, means removably mounting a roll of said tape spaced from said entrance wall in alinement with the guide means for feeding of the tape into the guide means along the entrance wall, and means for guiding withdrawal of said tape from the hopper along the exit wall at an angle to said exit wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 276,856 5/1883 Miner 118-428 X 2,623,497 12/1952 Smith et al. 1184-15 X 2,717,575 9/1955 Merrifield 118'415 X 2,763,237 9/1956 Harris 1l8-4+19 X 2,876,730 3/1959 Moore 118--43 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. I. P. MCINTOSH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING TAPE COATED WITH ADHESIVE COMPRISING, A HOPPER HAVING AT LEAST TWO DOWNWARDLY CONVERGING WALLS CONFINING A BODY OF SAID ADHESIVE THEREIN, GUIDE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID WALLS HOLDING SAID TAPE IN CONTACT WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE WALLS FOR EXPOSING ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE TAPE TO SAID BODY OF ADHESIVE, DISPENSING MEANS ON ONE OF THE WALLS FOR GUIDING WITHDRAWAL OF THE 